Another tea that will mark the beginning of 2012 for me. Ok…….again a week late. I’ve only had one other Feng Huang Dan Cong, so I was eager to try this one. Upon opening the bag, I smelled stone fruit notes and woods. The leaves were darker than those of the other Dan Cong I tried. The wet leaves smelled great-fruity (peachy) and of woods.

I kept the steeps short, because Dan Congs have a bitter edge to them (in a good way), but if you’re not careful, the bitterness overtakes the tea. First two steeps were at 30 seconds at around 170 degees. Really got some nice peach flavors here and yet some notes of woods too. Not as peachy as I remember my other Dan Cong to be but is probably due to lower steep times. There was no back end bitterness noted, but will probably make an appearance with later steeps. Delicious full flavor, with lots of staying power on my palate! Third steep was 1 minute at around 170-175 degrees. Very consistent flavor notes and aromas through the third steep with no bitterness, yet same full mouth feel.

I’m really enjoying this and hoping to get three more quality steeps. :)) More to come!

The flavor of my fourth and fifth steeps were tainted due to food I had eaten, but I can say the 4th steep was still quite delicious. Aromas and stone fruit notes fading, and just a little back end bitterness. Steeped 190 degrees at 2 minutes.

Last steep was good even though the flavor was fading here, and a little bitterness, but surprisingly not much. Steeped 205 degrees for 5 minutes.

Five steeps using roughly 6 to 7 grams of tea!

I loved this tea. Five good quality, delicious, juicy, cups with this Dan Cong. :)) A keeper for me. Although bitterness didn’t make a grand appearance here, I still recommend keeping steep times on the short side.